Demountable partition



J. A. ROBERTSON 2,958,403

DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION Nov. 1, 1960 Filed Oct. 3, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 123 mi a INVENTOR.

0%, df'zmn ja-a M Nov. 1, 1960 J. A. ROBERTSON DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1955 muw w k gw DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION FiledOct. 3, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Mm dfidam Uted States Patent DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION John A. Robertson,Arlington Heights, 111., assignor to United States Gypsum Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 3, 1955, Ser. No.538,166

Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to a partitionconstruction, and more particularly to a demountable type of partitionadapted primarily for use in partitioning oflices and the like.

The present application is an improvement on the subject matter of anearlier application of George W. Baker, Serial No. 374,545, which wasassigned to the assignee of the present application. The Bakerapplication discloses means for demountably attaching wallboard panelsto studs and to means for adjustably securing the studs to the floor ofthe room in which the partition is erected notwithstanding theirregularities of the floor surface.

Various demountable oifice type partitions have heretofore been proposedwhich utilize materials such as-wood and/or steel and, thus, by reasonof this fact are costly and/or not eifectively resistant to fire oratmospheric changes. In addition, parts of such prior demountablepartitions are oftentimes permanently damaged when the partition isdisassembled.

While partitions utilizing gypsum board panels are well known in thebuilding industry, such partitions have, however, normally been of apermanent nature and erected either by adhesively securing, clipping ornailing the wallboards either to each other or to supporting studs insuch a manner as to preclude any disassembly thereof without inherentlydestroying or damaging the wallboards.

Thus it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide apartition which may be readily assembled or disassembled, and whereindisassembly may be accomplished without damaging the wallboard panelsutilized in such partition, or without necessitating the disassemblyoperation to be commenced at a predetermined terminal edge of orlocation on the partition.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a partitionwhich is inexpensive and is possessed of a high fire resistance ratingand is unaffected by atmospheric changes.

It is a further object of this invention to disclose a novel means ofanchoring various structural frame members, such as lintels, cornicecaps, door bucks and the like, to one another to define the necessarywindow or door openings in the partition.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention l "ice parallelrelation to define one or more walls of the partitioned area. The studsare secured to the floor by means which are adapted to accommodate thelower ends of the studs and permit vertical adjustment thereof tocompensate for irregularities appearing in the floor surface and thusassure that the upper edge of the partition is level. Secured to theupper ends of the studs is an elongated cornice member which is spacedfrom the ceiling of the room. A plurality of wallboard panels arearranged in abutting edge-to-edge relation and removably secured to thecorresponding opposite sides of the studs to conceal the latter and formsubstantially parallel, relatively spaced courses of wallboard panels.The upper edges of the courses of wallboard panels are embraced by thecornice member. Positioned within the parallel courses of wallboardpanels is a frame assembly forming an opening through such courses. Theframe assembly has a horizontal portion thereof removably secured to theunderside of the cornice member and. a pair of vertically extendingportions which are adapted to embrace edge portions of the panelsdelimiting the opening.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should bemade to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view ofthe improved partition construction having portions thereof cut away toexpose concealed structural elements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a verticallyadjustable stud-supporting means utilized in the improved partitionconstruction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view takenalong line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 6;

Figs. 8A and 8B are similar sectional views taken along lines 8-8 ofFig. l and showing alternate ways of attaching wallboard used as fillerpanels Within the space between the cornice member and the ceiling ofthe room in which the partition is erected;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary break-away perspective view of a cornerconstruction for the improved partition;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the means for securing to the floorportions of the door frame utilized in the improved partition; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective cross-sectional view taken alongline 11-11 in Fig. 1.

In the application of George W. Baker, Serial No. 374,545, heretoforementioned, a detailed description is given of a novel method ofattaching laminated wallboard panels to a channel-like stud. This methodis utilized generally in the present application and is shown in Fig. 3.Furthermore, in the Baker application there is also disclosed anadjustable base member used for mounting vertical studs and the like toa floor surface so that the upper edge of the partition will be levelregardless of irregularities in the floor. Such a base member is similarto that disclosed in the present application and shown in Fig. 2. Thesestructural members as well as certain other details set forth in theprior Baker application will, for the purpose of facilitatingunderstanding of the present application, be reinterated in thedescription to follow.

In describing the improved partition construction certain important andnovel features will be discussed in detail, such as the means employedfor attaching board panels to frames of openings, means for securing thelintels of these frames to a cornice member, and means for splicingtogether sections of the cornice member.

In practicing the present invention a series of studsupporting basemembers 2 are aligned with respect to one another and attached to thefloor at the location of the intended partition, using one such memberfor each stud. Each supporting member 2, as shown in Fig. 2, consists ofa channel-shaped element 3, the web 3a of which is attached to the floorof the room in which the partition is to be erected. The parallelflanges 3b of element 3 extend upright from the floor and are adapted tobe contacted by depending, substantially parallel side flanges 4a of asecond channel element 4 disposed in inverted relation thereabove.

Substantially parallel, angularly disposed, elongated slots 5 areprovided in the side flanges 4a of upper channel 4 through which extendinwardly locking bolts 6. The bolts 6 also pass through openings formedin flanges 3b of the lower channel 3, and are threadedly engaged bynuts. The slots 5 permit vertical adjustment of the upper channel 4 withrespect to lower channel 3, and thus compensate for any irregularityoccurring in the floor surface.

Channel 4 is provided with a raised web portion 4b on which rests thebottom of the vertical stud 7. An angle piece 7a is provided foranchoring the stud to channel 4 and has one leg thereof secured byriveting or any other suitable means to the web portion 4b of thechannel and the other leg thereof extending upright and secured to theweb 7b of the vertical stud.

Attached to the exposed surfaces of side flanges 4a of channel 4 areretaining pieces 8 which are adapted to be accommodated by a baseboardtrim plate 9'. The pieces 8, in addition, serve as a splicing member foradjacent aligned trim plates 9. Each piece 8 is secured to the flange4a, in this instance by a bolt which, in turn, extends through a secondangularly disposed elongated slot 5 formed in upper channel flange 4aand a second opening formed in lower channel flange 3b. The upper edge8a of each retaining piece 8 is bent outwardly a slight amount so as totake up the space 9a formed between the turn back edge 9'!) of plate 9,and thus prevent any loose fit which might occur between pieces 8 andplate 9".

The spaces formed on opposite sides of raised web portion 412 betweenthe vertical sides of the web portion and the back side of the retainingpieces 8 are adapted to receive the lower edge portions of the wallboardpanels 9, see Fig. 1.

After these base members 2 have been attached to the floor and leveledproperly with respect thereto, the corner stud or studs of thepartition, if there be such, are located. This is done by attaching ametallic corner member 10 (see Fig. 9) to the supporting floor at thedesired location. Member 10 includes a base piece 11 having a pair ofupright peripheral flanges 11a which are disposed in planes atsubstantially a right angle with respect to one another. A corner postor stud 12 is then mounted on the base piece 11 and is deformed so thatthe sides of the post contact and are secured to such flanges 11a. Eachsurface 12a of the post in contact with one upright flange 11a isprovided with a vertically extending elongated slot 1212 through whichextends a locking bolt 13'. The bolt 13 also extends through an openingin flange 11a and is threadably engaged by a nut 13a. Thus, by reason ofslots 12b vertical adjustment of the post 12 may be effected tocompensate for any irregularities in the floor surface. To conceal thebase piece 11 and the post 12, an elongated, vertically extending anglepiece 14 is provided which has the elongated, angularly disposed sideedges thereof deformed so as to encompass the edges of the post 12.Overlying the lower exposed surface of piece 14 is a trim member 15which is the same height and style as the baseboard trim plate 9',heretofore described; It will be noted in Fig. 9 that secured to thejuncture of the post surfaces 12a is a substantially V-shaped backingelement 16 which is adapted to contact the back or exposed side 9b ofthe inner course 9a of panels 9. It will be noted that the side edge ofthe exposed side 9c of the outer course 9d adjacent the corner post 12is concealed by the deformed edge 120 of the post.

Subsequent to locating and attaching the base members 2 and cornermembers 10 to the floor, the door framesupporting members 17, see Fig.10, are positioned on opposite sides of the doorway 18 to be formed inthe partition wall. Each member 17 includes an angle base piece 19having one side thereof 1% attached to the floor. Side 19a is providedwith a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, elongated slots 20 whichpermit anchoring bolts, not shown, to pass therethrough. Furthermore,the slots facilitate slidable adjustment of the piece along the floor.The second side 1% of the piece 19 extends upwardly from the floor andis provided with a pair of openings spaced a predetermined distanceabove side 19a. The openings accommodate bolts 21 which secure anadapter plate 22 to the piece side 1%. Plate 22 is provided with a pairof elongated, spaced, substantially parallel slots 22, through whichbolts 21 also pass. Thus, by reason of slots 22' vertical adjustment ofadapter plate 22 is possible. The side edges of plate 22 are bent backin substantially the same direction and form a pair of substantiallyparallel flanges 22a. Adapter plate .22 is encompassed by a verticaldoor frame structure 23, which is substantially channel-shaped in crosssection. The elongated free edges 23a of structure 23 are turnedinwardly toward each other and then back a slight amount to form a pairof pockets 24, in which are disposed flanges 22a ofrplate 22.Encompassing the lower end portion of structure 23 is a trim piece 25which is in alignment with the baseboard trim plate 9', shown in Fig. 1.

The vertical door frame structure 23, as shown in cross section in Fig.4, is provided at predetermined heights above the support member 17 witha plurality of spacer pieces 26, only one being shown, which are weldedor otherwise secured to the concealed side of structure 23. Piece 26includes a' substantially channel-shaped center section 27 having theside flanges 28 thereof diverging slightly away from the web portion3%). The reason for the divergency of the side flanges 28 will becomeapparent hereinafter. Integrally connected to the flanges'ZS of thecenter section 27 are outwardly extending wing sec-- tions 31, each ofwhich comprises first and second portions 31a and 31b, respectively. Thefirst portions 31a extend outwardly in opposite directions from thedivergent edges of side flanges 28 and engage the inside of opposedflange segments 23b of structure 23. Second portions 31b are disposed ata right angie to first portions 31a and rest against the concealedsurfaces of flange segments 23b and are secured thereto by spot-weldingor any other suitable means.

It will be noted in Fig. 4 that the vertical edges of the panels9form'ing the panel courses are wedged within the spaces formed betweenthe side flanges 28 of the center section 27 of spacer piece 26 and thecorresponding deformed, vertical edge portions 23a of structure 23.Thus, the divergency of side flanges 28 assures that the exposed,surface ofeach end panel of a course will positively contact deformededge portions 23a. Furthermore,

the spaces in which the panel edges are wedged compensate for anyirregularity in the panel edges caused by sawing or the ilke, and thuspresent a pleasing appearance for the partition.

Fig. 3 illustrates one of the embodiments found in the copending Bakerapplication, Serial No. 374,545, in re- Fig. 3.

-tially an elongated channel.

gard to a means for securing the vertical edges of adjoining panels of acourse to a vertical stud7. The means in this instance comprises aplurality of vertically spaced clips 32 which are adapted to have oneend portion 33 thereof wedged within the joint formed between thelaminations of inner course 9a or outer course 9d, respectively, of thepanels disposed to one side of the vertical stud 7. The clip engages thepanel which has the outer or exposed lamination thereof overhanging theinner lamination thereof along the vertical edge of the panel. Extendingat substantially a right angle from portion 33 and inwardly toward thespacing 34, formed between the courses, is an intermediate portion 35 ofthe clip. This latter portion 35 is of a width equal substantially tothe thickness of the inner lamination of course 9a or 9d. The inner endportion 36 of the clip is deformed in a direction opposite from thatwhich portion 33 extends form portion 35. The deformation of end portion36 permits the clip to slidably snap into engagement with a segment 7cof stud 7 upon the edge of the panel being pressed in a direction towardthe stud. It will be noted that the bent back side segments 70 of thestud 7 are adapted to have the free edge 7d thereof embracing the edgeof the inner lamination of the panel courses 9a or 9d extending to theleft from stud 7, as viewed in Thus, stud 7 and clip 32 positivelysecure the adjoining panels to the stud.

Subsequent to the studs, corner posts, and door frame being erected acornice member 37 is positioned in place.

The cornice member 37, as seen in Fig. 5, is formed preferably of sheetmetal material and is shaped into substan- The web portion 38 of themember is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 40, the widthof which is equal to the distance measured normal from one exposedsurface of a course of panels to the exposed surface of the other courseof panels. The purpose of the recess will be discussed more fullyhereinafter. The side flanges 41 of member 37 depend from web portion 38and have the lower free edges 42 thereof turned inwardly a shortdistance and then out-,

wardly and angularly upwardly therefrom to form pockets 43. A corner 44of each deformed lower free edge 42 of flange 41 is adapted to engagethe exposed surface of the adjacent course of panels, see Fig. 5. Toeflect interconnection of adjoining sections of cornice member 37, asplicing piece 45 is provided which has the lower inwardly bent edges 46thereof disposed within the pockets 43 formed in the side flanges 41 ofcornice member 37. The upper edge 47 of splicing piece 45 is likewisedeformed inwardly and is secured by a nut and bolt assembly 48 or thelike to the under side of recess 40 formed in the cornice member webportion 38. The splicing piece 45 is of suflicient length to span thejoint between adjacent sections of cornice member and, thus, retain thelatter in properly aligned relation.

In positioning the cornice member, one end thereof is normally aflixedto an exist ,ing wall of the room by an angle-shaped bracket. The

opposite end of the cornice member is likewise normally attached by anangle-shaped bracket or the like to one of the surfaces 12a of thecorner post 12. Where, however, the corner post is spaced a considerabledistance from the existing wall of the room, it might be advisable tosupport the cornice member at predetermined segments of its longitudinaldimension. This may be accomplished by adjusting vertically certain ofthe studs 7. between the wall and the corner post so that the upper endsof such studs engage the underside of the web portion 38 of the cornicemember. Such vertical adjustment of the studs may be effected byadjusting the channel elements 4 of the supporting base members 2. Ifde-, sired, the contacting upper ends of the studs may be seto thecornice member web portion.

In Figs. 8A and 8B.is shown alternate means for securing filler panels50 to the uppelr side of the cornice members 37. The filler panels 50,shown in Figs. 8A, are of laminated wallboard construction, the same aspanel courses 9, and have the lower edges thereof disposed within recess40 formed in the web portion 38 of cornice member 37. The lower edges ofthe filler panels 50 are maintained in proper shaped relation by a block51 of proper dimensions. In Fig. 8B the lower edges of the filler panels50 are shown to be of oflset construction and are retained in properspaced relation within the cornice member recess 40 by a channel piece52, having the web portion 52a thereof resting against the base ofrecess 40. The filler panels 50 rest against the outer surfaces ofupwardly extending flanges of piece 52. The upper edges, not shown, ofthe filler panels 50 contact the ceiling of the room in which thepartition is erected. Suitable molding, not shown, for concealing theupper edges of the filler panels 50 may be utilized.

The lintel 53 of a door frame or the lintel 53' of a window frame issecured to the under side of cornice member 37 in a manner as shown moreclearly in Figs. 6 and 11, respectively. The lintel 53 or 53 issubstantially channel-shaped in cross section and is disposed ininverted relation with respect to the cornice member 37. The upper orfree edges 54 of the side flanges 55 of the lintel 53 or 53 are deformedin a manner similar to the free edges 42 of the side flanges 41 of thecornice member 37. The deformed edges 42 and 54 have portions thereof inabutting relation, as seen in Fig. 6. The cornice member 37 and lintel53 or 53 are maintained in abutting relation by a hanger element 56threadably engaging the shank 57 of an upwardly extending bolt 58, thelatter extending through the web portion 60 of the lintel 53 or 53.

The hanger element 56 is elongated and substantially channel-shaped incross section, see Fig. 7. The opposite ends 61 of the hanger element 56are undercut so as to form a yoke-type connection between the ends ofthe hanger element and the deformed edges 42 of the cornice member 37.The longitudinal dimension of the hanger is slightly greater than thespacing between the side flanges 41 of the cornice member 37. Theopposite end faces of the hanger element 56 are substantially paralleland angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the element. Theangularity of the end faces permits the element to rotate in onedirection about bolt 58 as an axis until the ends 61 of the elementbecome wedged between the concealed or inner surfaces of the sideflanges 41 of cornice member 37 whereby the element, when in wedgedposition, will be disposed transversely with respect to the side flange41 of the member 37 and the free edges 42 of the member 37 will beaccommodated by the undercut ends 61 of the element 56. Thus, once theelement 56 is disposed in a wedged position the bolt 58 may be turnedrelative to the element 56 and cause the lintel 53 or 53' to be drawn uptight against the under side of the cornice member. By reason of thechannel-shaped configuration of element 56, the latter is capable ofbeing drawn up tight against the terminal edges of the side flanges ofthe cornice member without becoming deformed.

The lintel 53 of the window frame, shown in Fig. 11, has the web portion60 thereof provided with a downwardly protruding rib 62 which is adaptedto serve as a stop or jamb for the glass pane 63 disposed to one sidethereof. A molding strip 64 is secured to the opposite side of the glasspane 63 and retains the latter in assembled relation. The strip 64 maybe secured to the web portion 60 by screws or any other suitable means,not shown.

Thus, it will be seen that a partition construction has been providedwhich is readily demountable without causing damage to any portion orpart thereof. In addition, the improved partition is of inexpensiveconstruction,

readily assembled or disassembled, and possessed of a ,in an existingroom, said construction comprising a plurality of support membersarranged in spaced, substantially parallel, upright relation anddelimiting a predetermined floor area of the existing room, verticallyadjustable means mountable on the room floor and on which the lower endportions of said support members are mounted to effect retention of thelatter in said upright positions, an enlongated cornice member removablysecured to the upper end portions of a predetermined number of saidsupport members and supported thereby in a substantially horizontalplane spaced a predetermined distance from the ceiling of-the existingroom, a plurality of ofiset edge wallboard panels arranged in abuttingedge-to-edge relation and removably secured to corresponding oppositesides of said support members to conceal the latter between spacedsubstantially parallel courses of panels, each of said panels beingremovable from support members independently of the other panels securedto said support members, the upper edge portions of said panels beingembraced by said cornice member and the lower edge portions of saidpanel being supported by said vertically adjustable means, and a framepositioned within said panel courses and delimiting an opening extendingtransversely through corresponding portions of said panel courses; saidframe including a lintel removably secured to the underside of saidcornice member and slidable longitudinally thereof to predeterminedpositions of adjustment between selected support members prior tosecurement of said panels to said support members.

2. A demountable partition construction having angularly disposedvertical walls for erection in an existing room, said constructioncomprising a plurality of wall support members and a corner supportmember arranged in spaced, substantially parallel, upright relation anddelimiting a predetermined floor area of the existing room, verticallyadjustable means mountable in relatively spaced relation on the roomfloor and on which the lower end portions of said wall and cornersupport members are mounted to effect retention of the latter in saidupright position, an elongated sectional substantially channelshapedcornice member removably secured to the upper end portions of said walland corner support members and supported thereby in a substantiallyhorizontal plane spaced at predetermined distance from the ceiling ofthe existing room, splicing means for interconnecting adjoining cornicemember sections in aligned abutting relation whereupon the longitudinaldimension of i said cornice member corresponds to the perimieter of thedelimited floor area, said splicing means being concealed within saidadjoining member sections and secured thereto, and a plurality of offsetedge wallboard panels arranged in abutting edge-to-edge relation andremovably secured to corresponding opposite sides of said wall supportmembers to conceal the latter between spaced substantially parallelcourses of panels forming the angularly disposed vertical walls of saidpartition, each of said panels being removable from said support membersindependently of the other panels secured to said support members, thevertical terminal edge portions of said panel courses adjacent saidcorner support member being embraced and concealed by the latter, theupper edge portions of said panels being encompassed by said cornicemember section.

3. The demountable partition construction recited in claim 1, whereinthe cornice member is substantially channel-shaped and has dependingside flanges, the free edge portions of which are bent inwardly towardeach other, then angularly upwardly and away from each other to formabrupt corners, the free edge portions terminate in spaced relation withrespect to the remainder of said depending flanges, the lintel of saidframe is substantially channel-shaped in cross-section and is disposedin inverted relation with respect to the cornice member, the upwardlyextending flanges of said lintel have the edge segments thereof offsetand abutting the bent edge portions of said cornice member, and ahanger-bolt assembly carried by said lintel and having the hangerthereof rotatable into wedging engagement with the depending flanges ofsaid cornice member to effect locking of said member and lintel in aselected position of adjustment; said hanger being of elongatedconstruction and spanning the distance between the free edge portions ofthe depending flanges of said cornice member, the opposite ends of saidhanger being undercut to provide Ways in which the free edge portions ofsaid cornice member depending flanges are accommodated, said hangerbeing slidable longitudinally of said cornice member free edge portionswhen said hanger is in an unwedged position, said hanger being providedwith a threaded opening intermediatae the undercut ends thereof foraccommodating the threaded upwardly extending shank of the bolt of saidassembly, said bolt having an exposed enlarged head cooperating with anopening formed in the web portion of said channel-shaped lintel, saidweb portion interconnecting the flanges of said lintel.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the hanger of saidhanger-bolt assembly has a longitudinal dimension greater than thespacing between the side flanges of said cornice member, the end facesof said hanger being substantially parallel and angularly disposed withrespect to the longitudinal axis of said hanger whereby the latterassumes a wedged position intermediate said cornice member side flangesupon rotation of said hanger in one direction about the bolt of saidassembly as an axis.

5. A demountable partition construction for erection in an existingroom, said construction comprising a plurality of support membersarranged in spaced, substantially parallel, upright relation andcooperating with the walls of the existing room to delimit apredetermined floor area, vertically adjustable means mountable on theroom floor and on which the lower end portions of said support membersare mounted to effect retention of the latter in said upright positionsand permit vertical adjustment of said support members, an elongated,substantially channel-shaped horizontally disposed cornice memberpositioned in spaced relation above the floor and beneath the ceiling ofthe existing room, said cornice member being disposed in invertedposition whereby flange portions thereof are depending and the webportion thereof interconnecting said flange portions is overlying theupper ends of said support members, the upper ends of a predeterminednumber of said support members being in contact with said cornice memberweb portion,

and a plurality of ofi set edge wallboard panels arranged in abuttingedge-to-edge relation and removably secured to corresponding oppositesides of said support members to conceal the latter between spaced,substantially parallel courses of panels, the upper edge portions ofsaid panels being spaced from the web portion of said cornice member andoverlapped by the depending flange portions of said cornice member, thelower edge portions of said panels being supported by said verticallyadjustable means; each of said panels being removable from said supportmembers independently of the other panels secured to said supportmembers, the lower terminating edge segments of said cornice memberdepending flange portions being offset in a direction inwardly towardone another to form a first edge portion, and then angularly ofisetupwardly and outwardly to form a second por- 9 tion, the latterterminating in spaced relation with respect to the adjacent dependingsurfaces of said flanges, the juncture of said first and second edgeportions effecting a line contact with the exposed surface of a panelcourse.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10Bell Oct. 11, 1938 Bohnsack et a1. Jan. 16, 1940 Mills June 4, 1940Attwood Apr. 4, 1944 Johnson Oct. 17, 1944 Miller Sept. 22, 1953 NelssonJan. 18, 1955 Tolman Apr. 17, 1956 Johnson et a1. Oct. 16, 1956 Miles eta1. June 18, 1957

